Who Can Volunteer
Community Service and Court-Ordered Hours
Matching organizations, in a different order on every visit
Connect Central Oregon is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strengthens communities in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties (plus Warm Springs) by connecting people with volunteer opportunities, board positions, and mentorship. It promotes civic engagement, community leadership, and innovation through platforms like Central Oregon Volunteer Connect.
Volunteers help run CCO's community events, from volunteer and board fairs to robotics and drone expositions, support community media production, and help keep the Volunteer Central Oregon directory accurate by reviewing organization listings. Students and groups are welcome, and CCO can sign off on community service hours.
Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity ReStore
also known as Bend ReStore
The Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store and donation center selling donated new and reclaimed building materials, furniture, appliances, and home goods at a fraction of retail price. It keeps nearly 3 million pounds of usable materials out of the landfill each year, and its proceeds cover Habitat's administrative costs so donations can go straight to building affordable homes. The Central Oregon Tool Library operates from its parking lot.
ReStore volunteers work alongside staff on regular shifts: cashiering, greeting shoppers, receiving and sorting donations, merchandising and setting up displays, and helping keep the store running. Volunteers 16+ can serve on their own; ages 14–15 alongside a parent or guardian.
The Giving Plate is a Bend food pantry offering dignified, choice-based food relief. Guests shop for free at its Community Store, children pick their own food at the Kid's Korner Market, a mobile pantry bus reaches rural communities, and weekend food packs go to students in Bend-La Pine schools. In 2024 it served more than 97,000 people and distributed nearly 1 million pounds of food.
Volunteers sort donations and produce, assemble orders, and unload trucks at the distribution center; drive or ride along on food pickups around Bend (clean driving record required); help at food drives and special events; and collect and sort food during Bend Food Project drives. Ongoing volunteers apply online, and school, work, and court-ordered service hours are welcome (16-hour minimum).
BrightSide Animal Center is a high-save animal shelter in Redmond that cares for displaced dogs and cats, rehabilitates them, and places them in responsible, loving homes. Every animal is spayed or neutered and microchipped before adoption, and a foster hospice ("fospice") program lets older or terminally ill pets live out their lives in volunteer homes.
Volunteers walk dogs, socialize cats, staff the BrightSide thrift store, and help at adoption and community events; foster volunteers care for animals at home, including senior and ill pets in the fospice program. Start with an application and a general orientation; hands-on animal roles also require online Fear Free certification. Junior volunteers ages 10–17 are welcome with a parent (no dog walking), and court-mandated community service is accepted.
Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity builds strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership for low- to moderate-income families and individuals in Bend and Redmond. Since 1989, the local Habitat affiliate has helped more than 250 families become homeowners and repaired 145 homes, building energy-efficient and net-zero homes alongside future homeowners who invest their own sweat equity. Operated on Christian principles, it also runs the Bend ReStore and serves as fiscal sponsor for community projects like the Central Oregon Tool Library.
Volunteers build homes on new-construction job sites (no experience needed, with full supervision), staff the ReStore, salvage reusable materials on free reclamation crews, mentor future homeowners on budgeting and saving, and serve on committees, at special events, and on the board. Businesses and groups can book team build days. Volunteers 16+ can serve on their own; ages 14–15 alongside a parent or guardian.
A no-kill animal shelter in Prineville serving Crook County, providing adoption, foster, rehoming, and pet assistance services for stray and abandoned animals.
Volunteers help with office work, fundraising and events, dog walking, cat care, kennel cleaning, community outreach, repairs, grantwriting, and photography. Open to volunteers under 18 with a guardian, and accepts court-mandated or school community service hours.
End of the list. Every organization on this page is now showing.